Centrally articulated compound road construction yard machine with orientable auxiliary element

ABSTRACT

A compound road construction yard machine comprising at least a tractor unit, a central articulated joint for steering and another work unit; for example, an earth compacting unit with vibrating drum or pneumatic wheels, characterized in that the two units comprise therebetween, besides the conventional joint, at least an auxiliary orientable element provided with a disassemblable supporting member. It comprises a device to be applied to centrally articulated machines for rapidly and easily separating the two units thereof and forming then readily other combinations of units on the road construction yard itself.

United States Patent [1 1 Domenighetti Oct. 29, 1974 CENTRALLYARTICULATED COMPOUND ROAD CONSTRUCTION YARD MACHINE WITII ORIENTABLEAUXILIARY ELEMENT [76] Inventor: Domenico Domenighetti, via Nosetto 6,Bellinzona, Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:388,923

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 131,297,April 15, 1971,

abandoned.

1 [52] Cl. 404/117, 180/12 [51] Int. Cl. E01c 19/38 [58] Field of Search404/117, 122, 128, 83;-

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Seaman 404/132 3,478,88311/1969 Breon 180/12 3,563,329 2/l97l Licari l80/l2 3,605,583 9/1971Keppler 404/117 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Young & Thompson [5 7] ABSTRACT A compound road construction yardmachine comprising at least a tractor unit, a central articulated jointfor steering and another work unit; for example, an earth compactingunit with vibrating drum or pneu matic wheels, characterized in that thetwo units comprise therebetween, besides the conventional joint, atleast an auxiliary orientable element provided with a disassemblablesupporting member. It comprises a device to be applied to centrallyarticulated machines for rapidly and easily separating the two unitsthereof and forming then readily other combinations of units on the roadconstruction yard itself.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED UN 29 I974 SIEUIBFZ TOR.

' INVEN melhco DohQvuat ATTORNEYS PAIENIEnums m4 3844l67 1 sum 2 or 2INVENTOR. nwmeyxkco A T TORN E Y5 CENTRALLY ARTICULATED COMPOUND ROADCONSTRUCTION YARD MACHINE WITH ORIENTABLE AUXILIARY ELEMENT This is acontinuation, of application Ser. No. 131,297, filed Apr. 5, 1971, andnow abandoned.

There are known at present self-moving, central articulated jointmachines which comprise a first unit provided with wheels set intorotation by a thermal motor over associated transmission means (thisfirst unit will be called from now on tractor unit) and a second unitprovided at the other side of the central joint and consisting of astatic or vibrating type earth compactor provided with metallic drums orpneumatic wheels having smooth surfaces or surfaces with radialprojections.

In said conventional machines the central articulated joint does usuallynot allow for an easy and rapid separation of the two units. However, asthe experience has often shown, it is highly desirable in a roadconstruction yard to separate one unit from the other to form differentcombinations of earth compacting machines by connecting the tractor unitto other earth compacting units available on the yard which may be moresuitable for certain kind of works to be performed.

The present invention comprises a device to be applied to centrallyarticulated machines for rapidly and easily separating the two unitsthereof and forming then readily other combinations of units on the roadconstruction yard itself.

More precisely the present invention relates to a compound roadconstruction yard machine comprising at least a tractor unit, a centralarticulated joint for steering and another work unit e.g., an earthcompacting unit with vibrating drum or pneumatic wheels, characterizedin that the two units comprise therebetween besides the conventionaljoint at least an auxiliary orientable element provided with adisassemblable supporting member.

The devices comprised by the present invention are: an auxiliary elementmounted on the tractor unit by means of a joint comprising at least avertical rotation axis, said joint being made to rotate by actuatingmeans (fluid operated cylinder-piston group) coinciding with theactuating means of the central joint and a supporting roll member whichmay be rapidly applied to (and after use disassembled from) saidauxiliary element to allow for the tractor unit to perform smalldisplacements even along curves to move farther away from the trailerunit it was originally connected to and enter into contact with anotherunit of different kind which it may be readily coupled to form a newcompound earth compacting machine.

The accompanying drawings diagrammatically show by way of example onlythe novel auxiliary element and several coupling ways for the differentunits.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor unit provided with the auxiliaryelement and its associated roll-supporting member.

FlG. 2 is a side view of the same tractor unit wherein the auxiliaryelement has the roll supporting member removed therefrom and shown indotted lines, said tractor unit being coupled to a towed vibrating earthcompacting unit to form a self-moving, vibrating, high efficiency earthcompacting machine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the same tractor unit with the auxiliaryelement coupled to a towed vibrating roller of standard type by means ofa connecting element permitting said coupling without modifying thetowed vibrating unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

The tractor unit shown in FIG. I is provided with pneumatic wheels 2actuated by the transmission means 3 and suspended by suspension means4, said tractor unit being guided from the seat 5. Said tractor unit isconnected by the joint 6 having a vertical axis 7 to an auxiliaryelement 8, the rotation of which is obtained by extension and retractionof the actuating means 9 operated by the driver on seat 5.

The auxiliary element 8 has a flange type surface 10 or the likedestined to be brought into contact with a similar surface belonging toany other unit which is to be coupled to the tractor unit 1.

The lower portion of the auxiliary element 8 comprises a flange likesurface 11 which permits the rapid assembling and disassembling of asupporting roll member 12 provided with one or more idler wheels 13.

In FIG. 2 the tractor unit 1 is connected over the auxiliary element 8to a high efficiency vibrating earth compacting unit 14 having anindependent motor; the unit 14 is provided with a flange surface 15 orthe like which may be connected to and disconnected from the surface 10of the auxiliary element 8. In this figure the supporting roll member 12is shown with dash lines since it has been removed or alternatively, theroll member 12 may be turned upwards by conventional means (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows the same tractor unit 1 connected to a vibrating roller 16of standard type .to form a compound earth compacting machine, thehorizontal bar 17 of said roller 16 having a connecting element 18provided with a surface 19 which is to be connected to the surface 10 ofthe auxiliary element 8. Also in this case the supporting roll member'12 has been .removed or turned upwards. 3

FIG. 4 is a plan view on the different components 0 the tractor unit andof the auxiliary element 8 shown in FIG. 1, namely the pneumatic wheels2, the guide seat 5, the pivot 6 coaxial with the axis 7 the auxiliaryelement 8 rotates about, under the action of the acuating means 9, thecoupling'surface -l0 and,-indicated with dash lines, the supportingelement 12 with its wheels 13.

The illustrated embodiments aregiven by way of example only and are notlimitative at all, all the illustrated elements and members as well astheir different arrangements being susceptible of any modificationwithout departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A compound road construction'rnachine comprising a tractor unit,awork unit, an auxiliary orientable member connected for,rotationrelative to said tractor unitabout a vertical axis, means for swingingsaid auxiliary member about said vertical .axis, said auxiliary memberhaving a vertical first flange surface on the side thereof opposite saidtractor unit, said work unit having a vertical second-flange surfacethereon detach.- ably interconnected to said'first flange surfacewhereby said work unit is detachably secured to said tractonunit forrotation relative to said tractor unit about said vertical axis, saidauxiliary member having a horizontal comprising a vibrating roller, aconnecting bar extending from said roller toward said tractor unit, anda connecting element disposed between and interconnecting said secondflange surface and said horizontal bar and supporting the end of saidhorizontal bar which is nearest said tractor unit.

1. A compound road construction machine comprising a tractor unit, awork unit, an auxiliary orientable member connected for rotationrelative to said tractor unit about a vertical axis, means for swingingsaid auxiliary member about said vertical axis, said auxiliary memberhaving a vertical first flange surface on the side thereof opposite saidtractor unit, said work unit having a vertical second flange surfacethereon detachably interconnected to said first flange surface wherebysaid work unit is detachably secured to said tractor unit for rotationrelative to said tractor unit about said vertical axis, said auxiliarymember having a horizontal third flange surface disposed at the lowerend of said first flange surface and extending toward said tractor unitfrom the lower edge of said first flange surface, an element having ahorizontal fourth flange surface detachably secured to said third flangesurface beneath said third flange surface, and wheels carried by anddisposed beneath said element.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, saidwork unit comprising a vibrating roller, a connecting bar extending fromsaid roller toward said tractor unit, and a connecting element disposedbetween and interconnecting said second flange surface and saidhorizontal bar and supporting the end of said horizontal bar which isnearest said tractor unit.